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Created between 1994 and 1995, Approximately 20 soldiers were trained in the fall of 1996 and the unit was fully operational in April 1997. According to reports, the impact of seeing 11 German citizens were saved by foreign forces (Belgian paratroopers and French) in Rwanda in 1994 because there was no German unit capable of performing such an operation was the main factor for creating the KSK. To complete his effective were taken command of a Company of each of the third Airborne Brigade, along with the reinforcement of two companies Long Range Reconnaissance (the 3blard was disbanded). The unit plans to be fully operational when achieve 1000 fully trained operators.

The KSK is responsible for operations behind enemy lines, long-range reconnaissance, strategic attack, counter-terrorist operations, hostage rescue or evacuation of German citizens in areas at risk abroad in cooperation with allied nations and especially with the NATO. The unit is also prepared to carry out C-SAR. The KSK is shaped according to the SAS. Despite its ability to rescue the hostages KSK is a military unit, with military missions, and not another GSG-9. The KSK may be moved to where the GSG-9 could not (at least officially), however it has happened (the recovery of a plane Lufthansa at the Airport Mogadishu, Somalia in October 1977, for example). Yet the KSK has a hostage rescue team ready to assist the German police whenever necessary. The KSK is also used to project or protect the interests of international Germany. Their missions are very similar to those performed by foreign units as the related SAS, Delta Force or U.S. Special Forces.

Bosnia - The KSK was using along with other special units (SAS, SEALs, etc.) on the hunt for war criminals Serbs.

Kosovo - Since its inception in 1996 the KLA - Army of Liberation Kosovo, Had been receiving support from the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), the German intelligence service, together with the CIA. The operations were aimed at weakening Slobodan Milosevic, And force him to give autonomy to the province of the majority Albanian. When the conflict between Yugoslavia and the NATO was imminent, commands of the KSK has trained the KLA guerrillas in northern Albania. By the open conflict in 1999, the KSK was used in many covert operations both in Kosovo, As the very Yugoslavia.

Afghanistan - Probably the KSK participated in the 2001 military operation to liberate eight missionaries from a German aid agency threatened with death and detained by the Taliban on charges of "spreading Christianity" in Afghanistan. This operation was successfully performed before the beginning of American attacks that country. With the invasion of Afghanistan the KSK was moved secretly to the Afghanistan to participate in the hunting operations Al-Qaeda and what remained of the Taliban.